It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession 1 страница

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

By Jane Austen

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession

of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his

first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds

of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property

of some one or other of their daughters.

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that

Netherfield Park is let at last?"

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she

told me all about it."

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.

"_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

This was invitation enough.

"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken

by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came

down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much

delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he

is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to

be in the house by the end of next week."

"What is his name?"

"Bingley."

"Is he married or single?"

"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or

five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"

"How so? How can it affect them?"

"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You

must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."

"Is that his design in settling here?"

"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he

_may_ fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as

soon as he comes."

"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send

them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are

as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the

party."

"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly _have_ had my share of beauty, but

I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five

grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."

"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."

"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into

the neighbourhood."

"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."

"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would

be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to

go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no

newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for _us_ to

visit him if you do not."

"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very

glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my

hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though

I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy."

"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the

others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so

good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving _her_ the preference."

"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are

all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of

quickness than her sisters."

"Mr. Bennet, how _can_ you abuse your own children in such a way? You

take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves."

"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They

are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration

these last twenty years at least."

"Ah, you do not know what I suffer."

"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four

thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."

"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not

visit them."

"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them

all."

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour,

reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had

been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. _Her_ mind

was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding,

little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented,

she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her

daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

Chapter 2

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He

had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring

his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was

paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following

manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he

suddenly addressed her with:

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy."

"We are not in a way to know _what_ Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother

resentfully, "since we are not to visit."

"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the

assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him."

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces

of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion

of her."

"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do

not depend on her serving you."

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain

herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little

compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times

them ill."

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully. "When is

your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

"To-morrow fortnight."

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back

till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him,

for she will not know him herself."

"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce

Mr. Bingley to _her_."

"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him

myself; how can you be so teasing?"

"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly

very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a

fortnight. But if _we_ do not venture somebody else will; and after all,

Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as

she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will

take it on myself."

The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, "Nonsense,

nonsense!"

"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he. "Do

you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on

them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you _there_. What say you,

Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read

great books and make extracts."

Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.

"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr.

Bingley."

"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.

"I am sorry to hear _that_; but why did not you tell me that before? If

I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called

on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we

cannot escape the acquaintance now."

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs.

Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy

was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the

while.

"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should

persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to

neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a

good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a

word about it till now."

"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. Bennet; and,

as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.

"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was

shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness;

or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so

pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but

for your sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you _are_

the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next

ball."

"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I _am_ the

youngest, I'm the tallest."

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would

return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to

dinner.

Chapter 3

Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five

daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her

husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him

in various ways--with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and

distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at

last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour,

Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been

delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely

agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly

with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of

dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively

hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained.

"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,"

said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the others equally well

married, I shall have nothing to wish for."

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about

ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being

admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had

heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more

fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper

window that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse.

An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already

had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her

housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley

was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable

to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite

disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town

so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that

he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never

settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears

a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get

a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley

was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly.

The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the

day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only

six with him from London--his five sisters and a cousin. And when

the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five

altogether--Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and

another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant

countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women,

with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely

looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention

of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and

the report which was in general circulation within five minutes

after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen

pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he

was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great

admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust

which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be

proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all

his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most

forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared

with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal

people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance,

was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving

one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for

themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced

only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being

introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in

walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party.

His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man

in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again.

Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of

his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his

having slighted one of her daughters.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit

down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been

standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr.

Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend

to join it.

"Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you

standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better

dance."

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am

particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this

it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not

another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to

stand up with."

"I would not be so fastidious as you are," cried Mr. Bingley, "for a

kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in

my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see

uncommonly pretty."

"_You_ are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr.

Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one

of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I

dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."

"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at

Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said:

"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt _me_; I am in no

humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted

by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her

smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth

remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story,

however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively,

playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs.

Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield

party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been

distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as

her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's

pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most

accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been

fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all that they

had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good

spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they

were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With

a book he was regardless of time; and on the present occasion he had a

good deal of curiosity as to the event of an evening which had raised

such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife's views on

the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a

different story to hear.

"Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet," as she entered the room, "we have had a most

delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there.

Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well

she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with

her twice! Only think of _that_, my dear; he actually danced with her

twice! and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second

time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand

up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody

can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going

down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and

asked her for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King,

and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again,

and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the _Boulanger_--"

"If he had had any compassion for _me_," cried her husband impatiently,

"he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more of

his partners. Oh that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!"

"Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively

handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw

anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs.

Hurst's gown--"

Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any

description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch

of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit and some

exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy.

"But I can assure you," she added, "that Lizzy does not lose much by not

suiting _his_ fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at

all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring

him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very

great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my

dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man."

Chapter 4

When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in

her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister just how very

much she admired him.

"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible,

good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much

ease, with such perfect good breeding!"

"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought

likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."

"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I

did not expect such a compliment."

"Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between

us. Compliments always take _you_ by surprise, and _me_ never. What

could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help

seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman

in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is

very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a

stupider person."

"Dear Lizzy!"

"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general.

You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable

in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your

life."

"I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak

what I think."

"I know you do; and it is _that_ which makes the wonder. With _your_

good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of

others! Affectation of candour is common enough--one meets with it

everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design--to take the

good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing

of the bad--belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters,

too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his."

"Certainly not--at first. But they are very pleasing women when you

converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep

his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming

neighbour in her."

Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced; their behaviour at

the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more

quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister,

and with a judgement too unassailed by any attention to herself, she

was very little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine

ladies; not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the

power of making themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and

conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the

first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand

pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of

associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect

entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of

a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply

impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their

own had been acquired by trade.

Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred

thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an

estate, but did not live to do it. Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and

sometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a

good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those

who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the

remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to

purchase.

His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but,

though he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no

means unwilling to preside at his table--nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had

married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider

his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of

age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation

to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it, and into it for

half-an-hour--was pleased with the situation and the principal

rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it

immediately.

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of

great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the

easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition

could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he

never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley

had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion.

In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means

deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty,

reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not

inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley

was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually

giving offense.

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently

characteristic. Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or

prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive

to him; there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt

acquainted with all the room; and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not

conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a

collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for

none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received

either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty,

but she smiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so--but still they admired

her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one

whom they would not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore

established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorized by such

commendation to think of her as he chose.

Chapter 5

Дата добавления: 2015-09-30